Sealing profile for a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A sealing profile having a profile base for attachment by insertion into a receiving orifice of a bodywork part and has a sealing portion which is attached to the profile base. The profile base is provided with a structural part and a holding limb which is formed as one piece therewith. The holding limb is formed for the purpose of engaging behind a first projection of the bodywork part and is formed so as to be able to fold in a resilient manner in the direction of the structural part. The profile base includes a holding surface which faces away from the holding limb and opposite which lies an edge of a fabric top. A locking strip is attached to the edge and in the assembled state is disposed inside the receiving orifice.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a sealing profile for a motor vehicle.

A known sealing profile of this type is shown in German Patent No. DE 4441 669 C1 (FIG. 4), the profile base of which is formed in the shape ofa wedge and is made from cellular rubber and comprises a hollow space.The sealing portion is formed as a profile which is separate from theprofile base and has its own base which is anchored in an additionalreceiving orifice of the bodywork part. This construction is costly toproduce and assemble.

It is known per se from German Patent No. DE 44 41 667 C1 to pull thetop lining around an edge of a light metal profile and to insert it witha thickened part on its longitudinal edge into a first receiving grooveof an additional metallic holding rail. As shown therein, the base of asealing profile is urged into a second receiving groove of the holdingrail. Moreover, the sealing profile comprises a tubular sealing portionwhich is integrally formed on the base. The holding rail is then screwedto the light metal profile.

It is known per se from U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,646 to pull the folding toparound an edge of a metal profile and to secure it at this site byvirtue of an outer metallic trim strip. A vinyl cord is stitched intothe longitudinal edge of the folding top. The edge bead produced in thismanner is urged together with a base of a sealing profile into anundercut groove of the metal profile. A further incompressible vinylcord is urged into a hollow space in the base for fixing purposes. Twotubular sealing portions of the sealing profile are integrally formed onthe base.

Another known sealing profile is disclosed in JP 07290955 A. Asdisclosed therein, the structural part comprises on its edge lyingopposite the foldable holding limb a further, fixed holding limb. Thesealing profile is inserted and urged into a holding rail having asubstantially Ω-shaped cross-section such that ultimately both holdinglimbs are locked in a receiving chamber of the holding profile.

It is known per se from German Patent No. DE 81 06 708 U1 to wrap theedge of a top interior covering around the edge of an inner flangeportion and to fix it in this position by virtue of an attachedsynthetic material strip comprising a barb.

It is the object of the invention to simplify the process of producingand attaching the sealing portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sealing profile for a motor vehiclehaving a profile base for attachment by insertion into a receivingorifice of a bodywork part of the vehicle and having an elastic sealingportion. The profile base includes a structural part and a holding limbwhich is formed as one piece with the structural part. The holding limbis formed for the purpose of engaging behind a first projection on thebodywork part and is formed in such a manner as to be able to fold in aresilient manner in the direction of the structural part. The profilebase further includes a holding surface facing away from the holdinglimb. An edge of a fabric top of the motor vehicle lies opposite theholding surface. The holding surface extends at least approximately inparallel with an insertion direction of the profile base. A secondprojection on the bodywork part lies opposite the first projection at aspacing. A locking strip is attached to the side of the edge of thefabric top facing away from the holding surface. The locking strip isdisposed in the receiving orifice and engages behind the secondprojection. The elastic sealing portion is attached to the profile base.Preferably, the sealing profile is extruded, i.e. is continuous in thelongitudinal direction in all of its components. The holding surface ofthe profile base renders it possible for the edge of the top fabric tolie in position in a flat and secure manner and for this edge to befixed in a correspondingly effective manner.

The locking strip can be adhered to the edge of the fabric top, and canbe made of hard rubber. These features present a favourable way ofattaching the locking strip to the top fabric or represent anadvantageous material for the locking strip.

As an additional feature, the structural part can include at least onelongitudinal rib lying against the first projection. This renders itpossible to minimize movements between the sealing profile and thebodywork part.

In another feature, the profile base can be co-extruded from denserubber and the sealing portion co-extruded from cellular rubber. Here,the sealing profile can be produced in a particularly favourable manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features of the invention will be explained in detailhereinunder with reference to the exemplified embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a bodywork part having a profile baseand edge of a fabric top inserted into the receiving orifice of saidbodywork part, and

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a part of an alternate embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a sealing profile 1 for a motor vehicle comprises aprofile base 2 and an elastic sealing portion 3 which is attached to theprofile base 2. The sealing profile 1 consists in a manner known per seof at least one elastomer, whose properties are tailored to suit therespective application. For example, the profile base 2 can thereforeconsist of a harder elastomer than the sealing portion. The profile base2 comprises a structural part 4 and a holding limb 5 which is formed asone piece with the structural part 4. The holding limb 5 is formed forthe purpose of engaging behind a first projection 6 of a bodywork part 7and is formed in such a manner that it can be folded in a resilientmanner in the direction of the structural part 4.

A second projection 8 of the bodywork part 7 lies opposite the firstprojection 6 and spaced therefrom. A receiving orifice 9 of the bodyworkpart 7 continues above the projections 6, 8.

An edge 10 of a fabric top 11 of the motor vehicle protrudes into thereceiving orifice 9. Furthermore, a locking strip 13 which is stitchedto the edge 10 by means of a stitched seam 12 is disposed inside thereceiving orifice 9. The locking strip 13 cooperates with the secondprojection 8 for the purpose of positively locking the edge 10 in thereceiving orifice 9.

The profile base 2 comprises a holding surface 14 which faces away fromthe holding limb 5 and against which lies the edge 10. On the side lyingopposite the holding surface 14, the structural part 4 is provided withtwo longitudinal ribs 15 which, in the assembled state as shown in FIG.1, lie against the first projection 6 and reduce undesired relativemovements between the sealing profile 1 and the edge 10 on the one handand the bodywork part 7 on the other hand.

In order to complete the assembly as shown in FIG. 1, the edge 10 can beinserted initially into the receiving orifice 9 and subsequently theprofile base 2 can be inserted in an insertion direction 16 into thereceiving orifice 9. At the height of the projections 6, 8 the holdinglimb 5 is folded against the structural part 4 . Above the firstprojection 6, the holding limb 5 then moves in a resilient manner to itsrelaxed position shown in FIG. 1, in which it forms a positive lockingarrangement with the first projection 6.

In order to complete the assembly as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible, onthe other hand, to perform an alternative procedure in that outside thereceiving orifice 9 the edge 10 is initially placed against the holdingsurface 14 and then this unit is inserted into the receiving orifice 9through the narrowed region between the projections 6, 8.

In FIG. 2, parts similar to those in FIG. 1 are designated by likereference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking strip 13 consists of a syntheticmaterial and is adhered to the edge 10. In FIG. 2, a frictional surface17 is formed on the structural part 4 in place of the longitudinal ribs15 and in the assembled state as shown in FIG. 2 said frictional surfacelies against the first projection 6 by means of frictional engagement.The locking strip 13 is supported on the second projection 8. The secondprojection 8 is also formed having a sharp edge 18 which additionallyprotects the fabric top 11 from being pulled out of the receivingorifice 9.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sealing assembly of a motor vehicle that has afabric top having an edge, and which motor vehicle further has a bodypart having a first projection and a second projection spaced from saidfirst projection, said first and second projections defining a receivingopening therebetween which extends behind said projections, saidassembly comprising: a locking strip attached to a side of said edge ofsaid fabric top; a sealing profile having a profile base for insertioninto said receiving opening and an elastic sealing portion attached tosaid profile; said profile base comprising: a structural part defining aholding surface; a holding limb extending from and joined to saidstructural part, said holding limb being resiliently moveable towardssaid structural part for insertion of said profile base into saidopening and then returning away from said structural part to engagebehind said first projection on the body part; and a holding surfacefacing away from said holding limb and extending approximately parallelto an insertion direction of the profile base into said receivingopening; whereby said profile base and said edge of said fabric top areretained in said receiving opening, said locking strip being on a sideof said edge of said fabric top facing away from said holding surfaceand positioned behind said second projection in said receiving opening,and said holding limb being positioned behind said first projection insaid receiving opening.
 2. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein saidlocking strip is adhered to said edge of said fabric top.
 3. The sealingassembly of claim 2, wherein said locking strip comprises hard rubber.4. The sealing assembly of claim 2, wherein said structural partcomprises a frictional surface engaging said first projection.
 5. Thesealing assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking strip comprises hardrubber.
 6. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein said structural partcomprises at least one longitudinal rib engaging said first projection.7. The sealing assembly of claim 6, wherein said profile base and saidsealing portion are co-extruded, and wherein said profile base comprisesdense rubber and said sealing portion comprises cellular rubber.
 8. Thesealing assembly of claim 7, wherein said locking strip comprisessynthetic material.
 9. The sealing assembly of claim 7, wherein saidstructural part comprises a frictional surface engaging said firstprojection.
 10. The sealing assembly of claims 6, wherein said lockingstrip is adhered to said edge of said fabric top.
 11. The sealingassembly of claim 10, wherein said locking strip comprises syntheticmaterial.
 12. The sealing assembly of claim 6, wherein said lockingstrip comprises hard rubber.
 13. The sealing assembly of claim 6 whereinsaid locking strip comprises synthetic material.
 14. The sealingassembly of claim 13, wherein said structural part comprises at leastone longitudinal rib engaging said first projection.
 15. The sealingassembly of claim 6, wherein said structural part comprises at least onelongitudinal rib engaging said first projection.
 16. The sealingassembly of claim 1, wherein said profile base and said sealing portionare co-extruded, and wherein said profile base comprises dense rubberand said sealing portion comprises cellular rubber.
 17. The sealingassembly of claim 1, wherein said structural part comprises a frictionalsurface engaging said first projection.
 18. The sealing assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said holding limb is formed as a single piece with saidstructural part.
 19. A sealing profile for use in a sealing assembly ofa motor vehicle that has a fabric top having an edge and a locking stripattached to a side of said edge, and which motor vehicle further has abody part having a first projection and a second projection spaced fromsaid first projection, said first and second projections defining areceiving opening therebetween which extends behind said projections,said sealing profile comprising: an elastic sealing portion; and aprofile base for insertion into said receiving opening, said profilebase being attached to said elastic sealing portion and comprising: astructural part defining a holding surface; and a holding limb extendingfrom and joined to said structural part, said holding limb beingresiliently moveable towards said structural part for insertion of saidprofile base into said opening and then returning away from saidstructural part to engage behind said first projection on the body part;said profile base further comprising a holding surface facing away fromsaid holding limb and extending approximately parallel to an insertiondirection of the profile base into said receiving opening; whereby saidprofile base and said edge of said fabric top may be retained in saidreceiving opening with said locking strip being positioned behind saidsecond projection in said receiving opening and said holding limb beingpositioned behind said first projection in said receiving opening. 20.The sealing profile of claims 19, wherein said holding limb is formed asa single piece with said structural part.
 21. A sealing profile for amotor vehicle that has a fabric top having an edge and a locking stripattached to a side of said edge, said motor vehicle having a body partdefining a first projection and a second projection spaced from saidfirst projection, said first and second projections defining a receivingopening therebetween which extends behind said projections, said sealingprofile comprising: a profile base for attachment to said motor vehicleby insertion into said receiving opening, said profile base comprising:a structural part having a holding limb extending from and joined tosaid structural part, said holding limb being resiliently moveabletowards said structural part for insertion of said profile base intosaid receiving opening and then returning away from said structural partto engage behind said first projection on said body part, saidstructural part defining a holding surface facing away from said holdinglimb and extending approximately parallel to an insertion direction ofsaid profile base into said receiving opening; and an elastic sealingportion integrally formed with said profile base; whereby said profilebase and said elastic sealing portion are insertable into said receivingopening as a unit; and whereby said profile base and said edge of saidfabric top may be retained in said receiving opening with said lockingstrip positioned in said receiving opening behind said second projectionand said holding limb being positioned in said receiving opening behindsaid first projection.